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Backups, restore, and snapshots

Backups are the most important maintenance habit in Onnoir. The encrypted .onbk backup is the restore path for a full local library.

Markdown export, snapshots, and encrypted backups solve different problems. Do not treat them as interchangeable.

ToolBest forNot for
Encrypted .onbk backupExact restore of the full local libraryReading notes in another app
SnapshotRecent local recovery point managed by OnnoirSurviving disk loss or device loss
Markdown exportReadable copies, review, migration, archiveExact restore of the encrypted library

Before you start

Choose a backup location outside the active Onnoir data folder. An external drive, encrypted cloud folder you control, or second device is safer than storing the only backup beside the app data.

If the work is important, keep more than one verified backup and occasionally test restore on a non-primary device or disposable local profile.

Step-by-step

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to backup, restore, export.
  3. Choose Export encrypted backup.
  4. Save the .onbk file somewhere safe.
  5. Choose Verify backup.
  6. Read the verification result before trusting the file.
  7. Before an update or risky maintenance, repeat the process and keep the verified backup.

Restore flow

Restore is intentionally two-step:

  1. Choose Restore backup and select the .onbk file.
  2. Onnoir rehearses the restore and verifies the backup before replacing the local library.
  3. If the rehearsal passes and you really intend to replace the local library, choose Confirm restore backup.
  4. After restore, unlock the restored local library from the vault screen.

Do not confirm restore just to inspect a backup. Use verification first.

What to expect

Backup verification checks that the package looks like an Onnoir backup and that its contents can be inspected. Restore uses a two-step flow: a rehearsal/verification step first, then a confirmed replacement step.

Snapshots are local recovery points managed by Onnoir. Automatic snapshots can help with recent local mistakes, and manual snapshots can mark a moment before risky work. Settings also lets you verify, restore, delete, and prune snapshots by retention period.

Safety notes

Snapshots are not a substitute for backups stored outside the app’s local data. A disk failure, device loss, or damaged local data folder can affect snapshots too. Keep verified .onbk files outside the app.

Markdown export is readable. Store exported folders or zip files according to their sensitivity. If you need to restore Onnoir later, create and verify an encrypted backup instead of relying on Markdown alone.

Troubleshooting

If verification fails, do not rely on that backup. Create a new backup and verify it.

If restore rehearsal fails, keep the backup file and read the exact error before trying again.

If confirmed restore fails, keep the failed backup file and any rollback path Onnoir reports, then check Troubleshooting. Do not delete the original local data folder while investigating.

If snapshots fail verification, use a verified .onbk backup instead.